How To Get The Best Out Of Your Careers Advisor

Planning for your future career is never easy, no matter if you are currently doing your GCSEs, A Levels, Degree or already in employment. For many people, it is a case of having no idea what to do with life, and for others who know where they want to be, it’s figuring out exactly how to get there. Trying to work things out on your own, can be a very beneficial task, especially emotionally, however, quite often it is a much easier process to seek the advice of a Careers Advisor. Nevertheless, it is important that you gain as much from your Careers Advisor as you possibly can.

So, how do you ensure that you are getting the most out of your Careers Advisor? Here are a few tips.

Most Career Advisors, whether you find them through your school or they are independent, are incredibly busy people because they have so many people to see every day. For this reason, sessions are often short and limiting, therefore it is crucial that the little time you have is used thoroughly.

Do your homework before each session, especially the first one, and ensure that you write down a list of your interests, including your hobbies. If you are looking to further your education, include a list of subjects that you enjoy and are good at. If you already know what you’d like to do, remember to take the time to research companies in your desired field, and decide if they sound like somewhere you would be keen to work.

Of course you want to follow a career path that will be prosperous in the future, but it is also important to follow a path that you are really passionate about.

If you already have an idea about where you want to head in life, make sure that your Advisor is aware of this from the moment you start talking. Don’t waste time trying to figure out what you already know.

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Prepare a list of questions to ask during each session, if you have any. Writing them down is great for people who get nervous and/or easily forget what they wanted to say. Remember the sessions are for you, so the more you participate in the session the more you can gain. You’re probably not going to achieve a lot if you just spend all your time listening and being told what to do. It’s your career; you have to make the ultimate decisions.

Most importantly, if you begin to feel like the sessions are encouraging you down a career path that you are not sure about, be confident and speak up. There is nothing more annoying than wasting sessions talking about something you don’t want to do. Remember again, that time is precious. Also, if you ever feel that your advisor “isn’t getting it”, or you just aren’t getting along with them, never be afraid to ask to see someone else. Whilst time is precious, it’s also important that you are comfortable and happy getting advice from this person.